Method and apparatus for creating a custom track

ABSTRACT

A method and system for creating and editing video and/or audio tracks is described. The method includes providing at least one artist, venue, and track available for selection and providing at least one clip associated with the at least one artist, venue, and track. The method also includes allowing a user to create a custom track from the at least one clip. The system includes a plurality of video cameras for recording a live performance at a plurality of positions. The system also includes at least one server for storing a plurality of video clips created from the plurality of video cameras and an application stored on the at least one server for allowing a user to access the plurality of video clips via the Internet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/463,390, filed on May 3, 2012, entitled “Method andApparatus for Creating a Custom Track,” currently pending, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/763,555,filed on Apr. 20, 2010, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Creating aCustom Track,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/491,269, filed on Jul. 21, 2006, entitled“Method and Apparatus for Creating a Custom Track,” which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/802,913, filed onMay 24, 2006, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Creating CustomTracks,” the entire contents of all of which are incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the storage andcreation of video and/or audio tracks and, more particularly, tocreating custom video tracks from multiple video sources.

Millions of music fans attend concerts at numerous venues every year. Asmany artists and recording companies have recognized, video and/or audiorecordings of live concerts are a very popular and successful salesitem. However, in most cases fans must wait for months, if not years, toobtain quality live recordings of a concert—if the recordings areavailable at all. In addition, many fans would prefer to have arecording of the concert that they attended as opposed to another venuethat was chosen either by the artist or recording company for massproduction.

It is desirable to allow a user to create and purchase video tracks,audio tracks, still images, or any combination thereof from aperformance that was captured via audio and/or video, e.g., a concert ora pay-per-view television show.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment relates to a method for creating a custom track. Themethod includes providing at least one artist, venue, and trackavailable for selection and providing at least one clip associated withthe at least one artist, venue, and track. The method also includesallowing a user to create one or more custom tracks from the at leastone clip, or from multiple clips, coming from one or more venues, or oneor more live performances.

Another embodiment relates to a system for capturing and storing videotracks from a live performance. The system includes a plurality of videocameras for recording a live performance at one or more positions. Anadditional embodiment allows for multiple audio tracks as well. Thesystem also includes at least one server for storing a plurality ofaudio clips, video clips, or still images created from the one or morevideo cameras and sound receiving devices, and an application stored onthe at least one server. The at least one server can be an e-commerce orother type of server thereby allowing a user to access the plurality ofvideo clips via the Internet, and, if desired, make a custom andpersonalized copy of a the videos, images, and audio tracks captured andstored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which arepresently preferred. It should be understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a system in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a diagram of a system in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a ticket bearing a discount or coupon code inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates several decision trees for graphical user interfacemenus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for a preferred embodiment of distributingadvertising revenue to an artist;

FIG. 19 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 22 illustrates a screen shot in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a computer 100 for use with some of the embodimentsof the present invention. The computer 100 is operated by a user or avenue to create a video or audio track. The computer 100 includes aprocessor 102, memory 104, a display 106, a keyboard 108, and a mouse110. Stored within the memory 104 is at least an operating system 112and an editing program 114. The editing program 114 is used to createthe video or audio tracks. The computer 100 accesses a server 118storing video tracks 122, audio tracks 120, and an access application124 through the Internet or a private network.

The server 118 stores audio tracks, video tracks, and/or still images126 that may be obtained from various cameras and sound receivingdevices at venues located around the world. The tracks may be fed to theserver 118 live via streaming video and audio, the tracks may be storedin another location and then downloaded to the server 118, or acombination thereof. For example, a venue may choose to download thetracks to another location or system in order to manipulate the files toinclude timing information or perform other editing of the tracks. Thevenue may also add embedded information regarding the date ofrecordation and the venue name. In addition, some venues may wish todelay user access to the tracks until after the concert has ended.Although embodiments of the present invention may reference a livemusical performance, embodiments of the present invention are alsoapplicable to backstage recordings, television shows, pay-per-viewshows, or the like. According to aspects of the present invention, auser may edit or customize the viewing of, e.g., a basketball game, atelevision show, or a reality television show by switching cameraangles, audio tracks, or the like.

In addition, the tracks available for download at the server 118 may beISO images, streaming video, or other format such as MP3, or MPEG2 or 4.Streaming video allows for digital rights management (DRM) to preventunauthorized copying of content. ISO images may have a DRM watermark toidentify unauthorized reproductions. Although embodiments of the presentinvention may use ISO images, streaming video, and watermarks, it willbe readily understood by one skilled in the art that various otherformats of video and video protection may be utilized without departingfrom aspects of the present invention.

The tracks may also be tiered based on a specific relationship, such astime or number of hits. For example, the first tier may be the mostrecent tracks to be added to the server 118 and/or the tracks with themost hits. The second tier may be made up of less requested tracksand/or tracks that have been available for a specific length of time,e.g., one month, one year, or the like. The older or least favoritetracks may then be archived. The first tier of tracks may be provided tothe user by default, or all tracks from all tiers may be provided to theuser for selection.

When tracks become available at the server 118 for download by thepublic, the access application 124 may be initiated to allow a user toselect and purchase video tracks, audio tracks, still images, or anycombination thereof. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary screen shot of theaccess application 124 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. Although the access application 124 is shown and describedwith a particular layout, it will be readily apparent to one skilled inthe art that many aspects of the screen shot may be altered withoutdeparting from embodiments of the present invention.

A user, through the computer 100, accesses the Internet 116 in order tostart the access application via the screen shown in the screen shot200. The screen shot 200 includes an artist window 202, a venue window204, and a track window 206. The windows 202, 204, 206 are preferablymenus that provide values for selection by the user. The windows 202,204, 206 may be provided as complete menus, scrolling menus, drop-downmenus, or other formats of presenting selections to a user. Although themenus shown are directed to the categories of artists, venues, andtracks (or songs), other categories may be utilized, such as shows,camera angles, audio tracks, or the like. For example, the user may bepresented with a list of individuals from which to select, and asubsequent menu may be populated with artists associated with theselected individual.

Preferably, based at least in part on a first selection 201 made by theuser from a menu, a second menu is populated with values from a secondcategory, wherein the values are associated with the selection from thefirst menu. For example, if the user selected the artist Aerosmith, thevenue window 204 may populate or adjust selections accordingly. Forinstance, the venues available for selection in the venue window 204would be the venues at which Aerosmith has played. A further selection203 made by the user from the venue window 204 may also cause the trackwindow 206 to populate or adjust selections of songs performed byAerosmith in Los Angeles.

It is understood that any number of categories and menus may beutilized, with selections by the user providing the path to obtainingclips for use in creating the custom track. For example, FIG. 14illustrates a number of decision trees that may be utilized by the userto obtain desired clips for use in his or her custom track. Theillustrated decision trees are not limiting, and any categories toassist the user in locating desired clips may be used. It is furtherunderstood that the clips may be provided at any point along thedecision trees, and the user need not necessarily reach the bottom levelin order to be provided with clips for use in creating the custom track.

Although the adjustment or population of selections in the windows 202,204, and 206 is preferred, it is also possible to merely black outnon-available selections or leave all selections available regardless ofprevious selections made by the user. The user may select one or moretracks at a time in order to create a compact disc (CD) of one or moresongs or a video track of one or more performances at one or morevenues.

When the user has determined the artist, venue, and track or portion ofa track from which he wishes to create a video or audio track, the userthen determines to create either an audio track via button 208 or avideo track via button 210.

If the user presses button 208, the user proceeds to screen shot 300illustrated in FIG. 3. The user may either add additional tracks to thepreviously selected track via button 302 or proceed to checkout viabutton 304. The user may also cancel the order by pressing a cancelbutton 306. In addition, although the following descriptions relate tocreating a custom video track from multiple camera sources, it will beunderstood by one skilled in the art that a user may create custom audiotracks from multiple sound recording devices. In a manner similar tothat shown in FIGS. 5-8, a user may select a particular sound recordingdevice from multiple sound recording devices placed strategicallythroughout the venue. For example, the user may wish to purchase anaudio track composed of audio recorded from a device near a drummer, adevice near the lead singer, and a device near the lead guitarist or anycombination thereof.

Instead, if the user presses button 210, the user proceeds to screenshot 400 illustrated in FIG. 4. Although the remainder of the processwill be described with reference to one video track, as noted above, itis also contemplated that the user may select multiple video tracks,multiple audio tracks, or a combination of both.

In a preferred embodiment of the screen shot 400 shown in FIG. 4, aconfirmation of the chosen track, artist, and venue appears on thescreen. The access application 124 provides the option of previewing adefault video track previously created for purchase by pressing button402. The user may instead prefer to create a custom video track bypressing button 404. If the user selects the default video track, theuser may preview the track with, for example, a pop-up window. The usermay then choose to purchase the default video track or cancel theoperation and create a custom video track. If the user selects thedefault video track, he may then select additional video tracks toinclude in his purchase, or the user may purchase the one video track bychecking out via button 408. The user may also cancel the order bypressing the cancel button 406.

If the user decides to create a custom track, he proceeds to screen shot500 illustrated by FIG. 5. Although the following video editingapplication is described with particular characteristics, it will beunderstood by one skilled in the art that any method of video editingmay be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Inthis particular embodiment, the editing program utilized to createscreen shot 500 is located on the user's computer 100.

In a preferred embodiment, a bar 502 across the top portion of thescreen 500 previews tiles 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 associated with aparticular camera or camera angle. For example, multiple cameras mayhave recorded various areas of the stage and/or crowd during a concert.The tiles 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 may be representative of a stillimage from the video track, may feature a preview video of the videotrack, or the like. Alternatively, the tiles 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512may be of a specific color or have specific text on them to denotedifferent tiles. The user may then drag the tiles to placeholders 514,516, 518, and 520 on the lower portion of the screen 500. The user mayalso scroll through the placeholders 514, 416, 518, and 520 with scrollbuttons 522 and 524.

Further, at least one advertisement 560 may be provided to the user. Theadvertisement 560 may be interactive and is preferably in the form of abanner advertisement, although the advertisement could also be in theform of a separate web page that is temporarily displayed before,during, or after access to the program, or may be a commercial that isdisplayed with the custom track, or the like. The advertisement 560 mayalso change based on elapsed time, changing pages, or the like. Multipleadvertisements 560 may also be displayed. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the owner of the access application is typicallycompensated by an advertiser in exchange for displaying theadvertisement 560. The advertisement may also be a watermark 660 (seeFIG. 6) on the custom track. The watermark 660 may be a temporarywatermark or a watermark that is displayed throughout playback of thecustom track. The advertisement may sponsor at least one song or aseries of songs in the custom track, a segment of the custom track, orthe like.

Other features may also be provided to the user. For example, a link 581to a website of a particular artist may be provided when the user iscreating a track from one of the artist's concerts. This is also a wayto benefit the artist by steering traffic to the artist website. A link583 is also shown in FIG. 5 which allows the user to purchasemerchandise associated with the live musical performance, the venue, theartist, or the like. The merchandise may be sold by the operator of thesystem, or may redirect to a third party site that sells themerchandise. The system operator in return could receive a royalty onmerchandise sold, a flat fee for providing the link to the third partysite, or the like. Similarly, the user may be provided the option topurchase or download video or audio tracks associated with the artist,venue, concert, or the like, such as through link 585. Again, the systemoperator may store the tracks and accept payments for downloads byusers, or may redirect to a third party site in exchange forcompensation.

The user may select a particular portion of a video clip represented bya tile 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 by selecting a particular start andend time as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the selected video clip 602may appear in a window 600. The start and end times may be adjusted bysliding start flag 604 and stop flag 606 along a time bar 608. Once astart and stop time are selected, the user may preview the edited videoclip 602 by pressing the preview button 610. The edited video clip 602may be saved by pressing save button 612 or edits may be canceled bypressing the cancel button 614. When the edited video clip 602 is savedor canceled, the user returns to screen 500 shown in FIG. 5.

The user then may continue by selecting another tile depicting anothervideo clip from a different camera. The user then determines theappropriate start time to coincide with the end time of the previousedited video clip. Of course, the user may select additional videoclips, tracks, or both to create a complete video or use only one videotrack. The custom track may be created from audio and/or video takenfrom multiple venues, can be created using multiple songs, or othersimilar combinations of artists, venues, and songs. For example, a usermay be provided with a plurality of video tracks and at least one audiotrack from a first live performance, and a second set of video tracksand at least one audio track from a second live performance. Preferablythe plurality of video tracks for each song or performance share asingle default audio track. The user may be permitted to select portionsof one audio track and assemble the custom track from the plurality ofvideo tracks from both live performances. The live musical performancescan be from the same or different venues, can have occurred at the sameor different times, and the like. The user therefore has totalcustomization to assemble a custom track to include any audio and/orvideo from one or more performances. Once the video is completed, theuser may preview the entire video, or portions thereof, in a pop-upwindow or other preview screen by pressing button 526. The user may addspecial effects, fades between camera angles, or the like beforecompleting the video. When complete, the user may continue by selectinganother track by pressing button 528 or proceed to check out by pressingbutton 530. If the user selects another track, the user repeats theprocess by displaying the tiles 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 associatedwith the selected track. When adding another track, the user may selectanother artist or another venue, or the same artist and venue.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a screen shot 700 forediting video tracks. In this screen shot 700 an upper portion of thescreen allows a user to view the tracks in a track window 702. The inand out times are also viewable through an in window 704 and an outwindow 706. The user may add, remove, select, delete, or the like tracksfrom the track window 702 as desired. The remainder of the upper portionof the screen may be used to view the video tracks and edit the in andout times. For example, a time in window 708 allows the user to edit thein time of the chosen video track. Similarly, a time out window 710allows the user to edit the out time of the chosen video track. The usermay play, pause, stop, rewind, or fast forward the video track asdesired with buttons 712, 714, 716, and 718.

A lower portion of the screen 700 may be devoted to timing of the videoclips. In this embodiment, a time bar 720 is shown along with theselected clips at their respective in and out times. The lower portionof the screen 700 may include a video portion 722 for viewing theselected video clips and an audio portion 724 for viewing the selectedaudio tracks. In addition, the lower portion may include scroll buttons726 and 728 for scrolling through the edited tracks.

In FIG. 8, a screen shot 800 of an additional alternate embodiment isillustrated. In this particular embodiment, a preview screen 802 islocated at one portion of the screen 800 with a time bar 804 at thelower portion of the preview screen 802. The time bar 804 allows theuser to edit the start and end times of the clip with arrows 806 and808. Similar to the previous embodiments, the user may view the clipwith play/pause, stop, fast forward, and rewind buttons 812, 814, 816,and 818. Another portion of the screen includes a clip window 810. Theclip window 810 includes placeholders 820 for placing clips 824, 826,828, and 830. The user may import additional clips or photos by pressingthe clips button 832 or photos button 834, respectively. For example,the user may import, via upload or the like, a home video or the likefor use as a clip 822, or may import a video over the Internet for useas a clip 830. In either event, it is preferable that an independententity, such as the system operator, reviews user-imported clips forprohibited content prior to making the imported clips or custom trackscontaining the imported clips available to other users. The systemoperator may define the scope of review and sets the standards forinappropriate content. Clips that are approved may include an indication864 of approval or the like.

The user may also add special effects to the video track by pressing theeffects button 836. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 21, selection ofthe effects button 836 takes the user to an effects screen 2100. Theeffects screen 2100 includes a preview screen 2102 as before. The usermay select an “Add Text” button 2104 to add one or more text overlays tothe custom track. Preferably, selection of the “Add Text” button 2104places a text box 2106 in the preview screen 2102 for the user to typeand place the text in the appropriate area of the video. The user isalso presented with an effects menu 2108, which may contain, forexample, video effects 2110, 2112, 2114, transitions 2116, 2118, 2120(such as fades, sliding screens, or the like), or like effects.Preferably access to the effects screen 2100 is provided after the userhas assembled the custom track from the video clips. However, it iscontemplated that the user may be able to switch back and forth asdesired between clip and effects editing. Returning to FIG. 8, the usermay also add graphics to the video track by pressing the graphics button860. Graphics can include one or more of dates, labels, song titles,band names, lyrics, or the like. In addition, the user or the venue maycustomize titles of the tracks, CD, or digital video disc (DVD). Thecover art for the CD/DVD may also be customized by the user or venue.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a system of the presentinvention. Here, the user may access the Internet 916 via a computer 900in order to access a web-based editing application 924. In thisembodiment, the computer 900 accesses servers 904, 906, and 908 tocreate and purchase audio and/or video tracks. The servers 904, 906,908, store video tracks 910, audio tracks 912, and an editingapplication 924. The editing application 924 and access to stored videoand audio tracks 910 and 912 are run remotely via a graphical userinterface (GUI) 902 at the user's computer 900. The GUI 902 allows theuser to view, create, and edit video and audio tracks 910 and 912 in amanner similar to that shown in FIGS. 2-8.

Although the present embodiment illustrates three servers for storingvideo and audio tracks as well as the editing application, it will beunderstood by one skilled in the art that fewer servers or more serversmay be utilized in accordance with aspects of the present invention. Adistributed, networked system as shown can allow storage capacity in thepetabyte range with downloads of a gigabyte-per-second or more. Byadjusting the number of servers, the type of storage systems used, aswell as utilizing parallel data input and output, storage capacity anddownload speed can be increased or decreased as desired and as economicsdictate. For example, a petabyte of storage and gigabyte-per-seconddownload speeds support the storage and download of high-definitiondigitized video, should the user desire high-definition video.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary system for capturing video tracks inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As previouslynoted, a venue 1000 may wish to capture video from several angles fromone or more cameras 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, and 1010. In the preferredembodiment, there are several cameras 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, and 1010that capture video from several different locations. For example,cameras 1 and 2 1002 and 1004 may capture video from the rear corners ofthe stage. Camera3 1006 may capture video of the audience. The camerasmay pan to different areas or specifically capture only one location.Camera 3 1006 may be fixed to a particular location, such as an area1012 defined by the venue 1000. Members of the audience may stand in thedesignated area 1012 to ensure that they are captured on the video ofcamera 3 1006. In the preferred embodiment, camera 5 1010 is located atthe far end of the venue 1000 from the stage. In a similar manner, soundrecording devices 1016, 1018, 1020, 1022 may also be placed throughoutthe venue 1000, either together or separate from the video cameras 1002,1004, 1006, 1008, 1010. Although the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.10 depicts a particular camera/sound recording device layout with fivecameras and four sound recording devices, it will be understood by oneskilled in the art that fewer cameras and recording devices or morecameras and recording devices may be utilized and the placement of thecameras/sound recording devices may be varied as desired by theparticular venue 1000.

In preferred embodiments, tickets are made specially available for seatsin the designated area 1012. For example, FIG. 16 includes a screen shot1600 wherein the user is provided a notification 1602 of ticketavailability for sections that will be filmed at an upcoming concert.The tickets may be made available for purchase directly from the systemoperator, or the user may be redirected to a third party vendor. In someinstances, the designated area 1012 may not include seats, and it may benecessary to provide users the option to purchase or obtain blocks oftime to be present in the designated area 1012. This option allows moreusers to be filmed and an opportunity to generate increased revenue.

The video recorded from the camera 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, and 1010 maybe fed to the server 118 for availability to the public, or the videomay be fed to an editing storage location 1014. Alternatively, the videocould be fed to both the server 118 and the editing storage location1014. At the editing storage location 1014, the video can be edited,default video tracks may be set up, digital management rights and/orwatermarks may be embedded, or other actions may be performed on thevideo. Once the actions are completed, the video may then be uploaded tothe server 118. One server 118 is illustrated in this particularembodiment, however, as previously described with reference to FIG. 9,several servers may be utilized in conjunction with embodiments of thepresent invention.

In addition, the venue 1000 may allow attendees of the concert adiscount, a credit, or a certain number of free downloads in exchangefor paying for a ticket to the concert (see e.g., FIG. 11). For example,the venue 1000 may stamp or print a discount or coupon code 1102 on theticket 1104 itself or hand out coupons at the venue 1000 itself. Theattendee may then go to the Internet 116, access the GUI or application124 and enter the discount code when creating a track. Also, the venuemay receive a fee for every purchased track recorded at that venue.Preferably, the discount or coupon code 1102 is limited to apredetermined number of uses, and the predetermined number may be tiedto the purchase price 1106 of the ticket 1104, that is, more uses areavailable for a higher ticket purchase price.

In FIG. 12, a screen shot 1200 of an additional alternate embodiment isillustrated. Upon completion of a custom track, a user may make thecustom track 1202 available to other users. Other users may then use thefirst user's custom track 1202 or portions thereof for creating theirown custom tracks (i.e., the first user's custom track 1202 is used likethe videos 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 in FIG. 5), purchase the customtrack 1202, use the custom track 1202 as a template for their own customtracks, or perform like operations. Preferably other users may benotified when the first user's custom track 1202 becomes available.Notifications, such as the notification 1204 shown in FIG. 12, may beautomatically sent to other users, such as those on a customer list.Notifications may also be sent by email, text message, social networkpost, or the like. A user preferably may select whether to receivenotifications, or select which other users from which to receivenotifications. For example, users may have the option to register toreceive notifications, such as via the “Register” button 1210, and beadded to a registration list. Notifications would then be sent to theusers on the registration list. Additionally, the creator of the customtrack 1202 may choose to selectively send notification to certain otherusers. In one preferred embodiment, where a user creates a custom trackthat includes audience footage from the designated area 1012 (FIG. 10),the track can be made available to other users who were present in thedesignated area. The notification 1204 can be used to notify these usersof the availability of the track in which they may appear.

The creator of the custom track 1202 preferably receives compensationwhen one or more other users utilize the custom track 1202. For example,the creator may receive one or more credits for creating more customtracks or for covering at least a portion of the cost for using theaccess application. The credits may also be good for obtaining tickets,merchandise, or other items. The creator may also directly receive moneyor other tangible goods in exchange for having the custom track 1202used by others. In any event, at least one of the creator of the customtrack 1202 and the entity providing the custom track 1202 on theInternet receives compensation when the custom track 1202 is used orpurchased by another user.

The cost to the user for creating a custom track may be determined inany number of ways, and is preferably calculated upon checkout. Forexample, the cost may be based on the time the user spent accessing theaccess application 124 for creating the custom track. The cost may alsobe based on the number of songs, performances, artists, or the likeaccessed by the user. The cost may also be based on the length of thecreated custom track. Alternatively, weekly, monthly, yearly, or thelike fees may be charged for access. A predetermined fee may also be setfor accessing a predetermined number of performances, artists, orvenues. Combinations of the above-described fee arrangements are alsocontemplated. Premiums for users to access the materials may also beestablished on, for example, a ticket price of a live performanceattended by the user, the number of times the user's track is accessedby others, premiums required by the performers or the venue, orcombinations thereof.

In FIG. 13, a screen shot 1300 of an additional alternate embodiment isillustrated. A club may be created that users are permitted orencouraged to join. Belonging to the club can allow a user access toadditional material not accessible by non-club users. For example, theuser may have access to additional video camera views of one or more ofthe live musical performances, a dressing room, a backstage area,pre-performance interviews, post-performance interviews, or the like.

In FIG. 15, a screen shot 1500 is illustrated wherein a user is notified1502 of opportunities to request an exclusive or special accommodationfor an upcoming concert or event featuring the artist, the venue, or thelike. Exclusive accommodations can be made available for purchase, inexchange for credits, may be free giveaways, or the like. Preferably, inorder to entice users to create and purchase custom tracks, credittoward exclusive accommodations may be made based at least in part onthe purchase of custom tracks. Exclusive accommodations may include apersonalized broadcast message at the event, which can be an audio orvideo message. For example, a user may request a message “Happy BirthdayJimmy” be shown during the event. Exclusive accommodations can alsoinclude personal interaction with the artist, such as a meet-and-greetwith the artist, an on-stage acknowledgement by the artist(“shout-out”), or the like. Exclusive accommodations can also includeadvance copies of set lists, programs, merchandise, or the like.

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Screen shot1700 illustrates that users are permitted to generate a video or screenshot 1702 for download from the clips or tracks. The screen shot 1702can then be used to create clothing, posters, memorabilia or the like.These items can preferably be personalized by the user to include aname, personal messages, or the like. Users also preferably have theoption to have the artist autograph one or more items created with thescreen shot 1702, or any other item. The video or screen shot 1702 mayalso be used to create screensavers or the like. It is understood thatmultiple screen shots can be utilized in creating merchandise.

Users are also encouraged to enter custom tracks into contests tocompete against custom tracks created by others. For example, FIG. 19includes a screen shot 1900 wherein the user is presented with anotification 1904 that a custom track can be entered into a contest inwhich the artist picks a favorite custom track. The contests can also bejudged by the system operator, other users (though preferably those whohave not entered a custom track), third parties, or the like. The winnerof the contest preferably receives an award, which can be credits,money, merchandise, tickets, or the like. The award can also berecognition by the artist, special featuring of the custom track, or thelike.

Embodiments of the present invention also encourage active participationby the artist. For example, copyright or other royalties may be paid tothe artist for use of the clips and tracks of the live musicalperformances. The artist can also be provided with access to the clips.For example, FIG. 20 includes a screen shot 2000 of an artist accesspage to a system in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The artistis preferably granted a higher level of access than regular users. Forexample, the artist may be permitted to add 2010, modify 2012, or remove2014 one or more the clips provided to the users. This includesadditional clips such as backstage footage 2004, stock artist footage2006, or the like. The artist is also preferably provided with theability to view royalty payments 2060 associated with the use of thesystem. A counter 2024 may also be provided to indicate the number ofviews of the artist's page. Artists are also encouraged to communicatewith the users, such as by a message board 2020, chat room 2022, or thelike.

Artists can also be compensated through sharing of revenue fromadvertisements, such as the banner ad 560 in FIG. 5. For example, FIG.18 shows a flow diagram 1800 wherein an artist is compensated on aprogressive basis for advertisements displayed in connection with theartist's clips. For example if an ad is not displayed 1802 with theartist's footage, no payment 1804 is made. If an ad is displayed, theartist may receive a first royalty payment 1806, which in FIG. 18 isshown as a flat fee. It is understood that the first payment need not bea flat fee, but some other fee arrangement may be negotiated. If nousers click on the advertisement 1808, the payment of the first royalty1810 is provided to the artist. If user do click on the advertisement,the royalty to the artist is increased 1812. In FIG. 18, this additionis shown as a fixed rate per click, although other arrangements can bemade. If users do not buy a product or service 1814 after clickingthrough, the total royalty 1816 is provided to the artist. If, however,users do buy the product or service advertised, the royalty is againincreased and paid 1818, shown in FIG. 18 as a fixed rate per purchase,although other arrangements may be made. It is understood that FIG. 18shows one arrangement for ad revenue sharing with participating artists,and that other methods of determining and distributing the revenue canbe utilized without departing from the invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, selection of the effectsbutton (FIG. 21) takes the user to an karaoke effects screen 2200 shownin FIG. 22. The karaoke effects screen 2200 includes a preview screen2202 as before. The user may select a “Karaoke Lyrics Text” button 2204to add one or more lyrics text overlays to the custom track. Preferably,selection of the “Karaoke Lyrics Text” button 2204 places a karaokelyrics text box 2206 in the preview screen 2202 for the user to placethe karaoke lyrics text in the appropriate area of the video. The useris also presented with language button LANG, which may allow selectionof, for example, different languages (e.g., English, Japanese, Spanish,etc.). The user also presented with an audio button AUDIO which canselect an audio track that is just instrumentals and a backup buttonBACKUP that is instrumentals and backup singers. The user may also bepresented with a mode button MODE which can enable automatic detectionof a karaoke player for selectively displaying the karaoke lyrics.Karaoke mode can also be an alternate sound track (like Spanish languagetrack) or the only track. The karaoke lyrics could be overlaid as textdirectly over the video or appear in a pop-up box like closedcaptioning. Optionally, a word within the karaoke lyrics is highlightedas it is timed with the singing of the respective word in the song beingplayed or another indicator, like a bouncing ball or arrow, is displayedabove the word in sequence.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are simplyillustrative of the principles of the present invention. Variousmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom aspects of the embodiments of the present invention. For example,various changes may be made to the graphical user interface (GUI),access application 124, and screen shots depicted in FIGS. 2-8, 12-17,and 19-21 while still embodying aspects of the present invention. Inaddition, the access application and/or the editing application may bestored at the user's computer and not at the server. The methods andapplications described above may be implemented in hardware, firmware,software, or combinations thereof, or in a computer program producttangibly embodied in a computer readable storage device. It should alsobe understood that where a video clip is illustrated in some of theexemplary embodiments, in some instances this can be simply an audioclip, a synchronized audio/video clip, or an unsynchronized audio/videostream.

We claim:
 1. A method for creating a custom track, the methodcomprising: providing at least one artist, venue, and audio trackavailable of a live musical performance, the live musical performanceincluding at least one complete song for selection; providing at leasttwo pre-recorded video clips associated with the at least one artist,venue, and track in a memory; allowing a first user to create a firstcustom track from at least a portion of the audio track and the at leasttwo video clips retrieved from the memory, wherein changes to the audiotrack by the first user are subject to third party parameters; andallowing the first user to submit the first custom track as part of acontest against custom tracks created by other users.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a winner of the contest receives an award.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the award is at least one of credits, money,merchandise, or tickets.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contestis judged by at least one of an entity providing the at least two videoclips, the artist, or users that have not submitted a custom track intothe contest.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing thefirst user to provide at least one second video clip, the first userbeing allowed to create the first custom track from the at least aportion of the audio track, the at least two video clip retrieved frommemory and the at least one second video clip.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein providing of the at least one second video clip comprisesallowing the first user to upload a home video.
 7. The method of claim5, wherein providing of the at least one second video clip comprisesimporting a video over the Internet.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: providing a menu of effects for use by the first user tocreate the first custom track.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: allowing the first user to add at least one text overlay tothe first custom track.
 10. The method of claim 33, wherein the firstcustom track created by the user is downloadable.